Scott Walker (24) celebrates with his new teammates after scoring the game-winner last night
against Tampa Bay. Photo by Hoosiers United.

If first impressions are everything, then D.C. should be head over heels in love with new Washington Capital Scott Walker.

In his first game as a Cap, Walker netted two goals — including the game-winner late in the third — to help Washington to a 5-4 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning.

Despite his 15 years of NHL experience, Walker, who came to the Caps from last-place division rival Carolina, admitted he was nervous in his debut. He was one of three new Capitals to take the ice Thursday, the others being center Eric Belanger, who started the game paired with Tomas Fleischmann and Eric Fehr on the third line, and defenseman Joe Corvo.

That meant several Caps regulars had to sit out, including Matt Bradley and David Steckel. Walker talked after the game about maintaining team chemistry while figuring out his role.

“It’s a great team, and you don’t want to disrupt it, yet you still want to be yourself,” said Walker, who was also wearing the hard hat after the game.

If three-year Capital Nicklas Backstrom was skeptical of the new locker room dynamics, he definitely didn’t show it.

“I think we’re a great group of guys — even our new players, I think they fit in pretty good,” Backstrom said. “We’re building a good team.”

Head coach Bruce Boudreau said he’s still working on line pairings and the (probably impossible) task of keeping everyone happy. He admitted that some of the confusion on the bench as players figured out where they were supposed to be and with whom translated, at times, to sloppiness on the ice.